WO2008144795A1

WO2008144795A1 - Blister pack and applicator therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2008144795A1
Application number: PCT/AT2008/000190
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zoran Djinovic; Herbert Weissenböck; Martin Milojkovic
Original assignee: Croma-Pharma Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-06-01
Filing date: 2008-06-02
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: KR20100029785A; JP2010528689A; JP5094966B2; CN101677872A; AU2008255612A1; BRPI0812241A2; CA2688031A1; AT505246B8; US20100132704A1; CN101677872B; AT505246A1; RU2470614C2; EP2150220A1; AT505246B1; RU2009149187A

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (3) for a plurality of individual doses of a liquid substance in which the individual doses are separately packed in a gas-tight manner and can be released separately. Said invention is characterised in that the container (3) comprises an essentially flat support film having a plurality of gas-tight cavities (33) and discharge channels (32) that are arranged on the periphery of the support film and that discharge at a distance from the periphery of the support film, such that end incisions are provided on the periphery starting in a transversal manner in relation to the discharge channels (32) and arranged at a distance therefrom. The discharge channels (32) are released when folding and pulling on the tabs formed by the incisions (30) and by ripping and separating in a manner that is transversal to the axis of the discharge channels (32).

Description

BLISTER PACK AND APPLICATOR THEREFOR

The invention relates to a container for a plurality of individual doses of a fluid agent in which the individual doses are packed separately gas-tight and can be released separately and on an applicator for such containers.

Active ingredients, and in particular pharmaceutical active ingredients, can be formulated in different dosage forms. In the case of tablets, blister packs are known, for example, in which the respective tablet can be pushed out of the packaging by applying pressure. WO 03/073907 A2 has already proposed, for example, in WO 03/073907 A2, to form a plurality of cavities on a disk-shaped carrier, the release of the liquid stored in such a cavity being released by the application of a pressing pressure with rupture of the respective wall of the cavity becomes. Such devices are therefore in the first place, as this proposal also corresponds, for the provision of detergents in dishwashers od. Like., In which it depends less on an exact dosage and also an untargeted splashing of liquid with regard to the subsequent rinse is meaningless by the rinse water.

For the provision of pharmaceutical active ingredients Al has already been proposed in particular in US 2006/0163269 Al to form a carrier strip with a plurality of cavities, which are each covered by an adhesive strip. To release the active ingredients contained in the cavities, which are usually in solid form, in each case a portion of the cover is peeled off, so that the exposed drug becomes accessible. Such embodiments are relatively unsuitable for fluids and in particular not suitable for the formation of drops, as would be required, for example, for the provision of eye drops. When using such a device for fluids beyond the risk of contamination of discharge openings, as a targeted release is not readily possible. In WO 96/06581 the release of active ingredients by destroying a cover film is achieved in that a corresponding pressing pressure is exerted on the bottom of the cavity, which leads to destruction of the cover, which sometimes tears the cover film and contaminates the active ingredient with cover film particles. This device is not suitable for the targeted and metered delivery of drops and is therefore not universally applicable. The US Pat. No. 6,443,307 B1, in which the covering film of a cavity is opened by punching knife, is only of limited suitability for the targeted release of fluids, since impurities arise at the punching edges, in particular with correspondingly sensitive active ingredients, which increase the effectiveness of the active ingredient and the safety of its application For example, when used for eye drops seriously endanger.

The invention now aims to provide a container of the type mentioned, with which a plurality of individual doses can be provided in a manner that each individual drops can be formed that further contamination in the opening of the individual packages can be safely avoided and finally, sensitive fluids, and especially fluids sensitive to oxidation, can be safely stored for a prolonged period of time, with correspondingly dense materials being required to confine the individual dose-receiving cavities. Active substances which, for example, are particularly oxidative Proteins which are sensitive to specific conditions include proteins, peptides, vitamins or prostaglandins, in particular vitamin A, glucocorticoids, vegetable oils, carotenoids and lipids, as well as thiol-bearing compounds requiring particularly resistant and gas-tight packaging in order to prevent oxidation. The container according to the invention should, taking into account all these requirements, ensure a corresponding long-term stability of the individual doses and be usable without contamination from corresponding applicators.

To achieve this object, the container according to the invention essentially consists in that the container has a substantially planar carrier foil, which transmits a plurality of gas-tight cavities to the periphery of the carrier foil send and at a distance from the circumference of the carrier foil emanating discharge channels that the scope outgoing transverse to the discharge channels are provided at a distance from these ending incisions, wherein when turning and pulling on the tabs formed by the incisions, the discharge channels are releasable by tearing and separation transverse to the axis of the channels. The tearing ensures an opening without contamination with particles and the gas-tight training ensures in particular that oxygen can not get into the cavities. In this case, the substantially planar carrier foil can be designed in the form of an arbitrarily designed disc, which may have a polygonal or, as in a preferred embodiment, circular circumference. The fact that now provided by such gas-tight cavities to the circumference of the carrier film and at a distance from the circumference of the carrier film discharge channels are provided, the possibility is created to adapt channel designs to the respective fluid to be dispensed so that when properly positioning the container on the open channel a Drop formation takes place and in this way a targeted and gentle release of the fluid is possible. In this context, fluid is understood to be not only liquid but also gaseous active substances, which can be made available in metered quantities by suitable dimensioning of the channel. The fact that now provided at the periphery of the carrier film transversely to the discharge channels at a distance to these ending incisions, the possibility is created to open these discharge channels by tearing, wherein the corresponding crack edge is transverse to the respective axis of the channels and the corresponding deformed, from Such a cut limited flap in the sequence remains connected to the carrier film, so that no possibly contaminated part would have to be disposed of in each case. Rather, the disposal can be done together with the container for the majority of individual doses. The tearing of the channel in this case has the advantage over the known methods in which an opening is to be effected by punching and with a removal of adhesive film, that the tearing edges are free of residues and therefore to fear no contamination of discharged via the discharge channels fluid is. Namely, no adhesive surfaces are exposed and there are no od depending on the cutting quality of punching chips or the. Like. Formed.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the training can be made in this case so that the gas-tight cavities and the discharge channels are limited by a multilayer film structure, whereby the required gas density formation is ensured. At the same time, the choice of suitable materials can ensure that the evaporation of liquids from the containers certainly also prevails under the prevailing low pressure, such as in correspondingly decompressed aircraft cabins. The stable formation of the carrier and the gas-tight cavities limiting film can also be made so that the Whole blister pack can be sterilized by the application of steam or can be subjected to irradiation, without this leading to the destruction of the packaging. Finally, the surface can be coated in the immediate vicinity of the opening of the channels to ensure absolute sterility, the stable design also allows the use in mechanically operated applicators.

Advantageously, the design is such that the substantially planar carrier film has a circular outline and the discharge channels are arranged substantially radially, wherein in a particularly advantageous manner, the discharge channels have a suitable for the formation of liquid droplets clear cross-section.

In order to ensure a safe tearing of the discharge channels, the embodiment is advantageously such that the incisions extend from the circumference of the carrier over a first section substantially radially inward transversely to the circumference and in a further section substantially in the circumferential direction and transversely to the discharge channels are formed extending, wherein the incisions adjacent to the discharge channels. A high storage stability and high reliability when using mechanical applicators can be ensured that the carrier film and / or the cavities or the Austragskanäle limiting films are formed as elastically biased film or elastically prestressed composite film.

The applicator according to the invention for such containers is essentially characterized in that a displacement drive or rotary drive is provided for the carrier film, by means of which a discharge channel is movable into a position of a discharge opening of the applicator aligned with this channel and in that means are provided for gripping an incision-limited flap adjacent to the respective discharge channel, which openings open the adjacent discharge channel, forming a tear-off edge running transversely to the channel, in the position aligned with the discharge opening of the applicator. Such an applicator is in principle suitable for polygonal carrier films, but preferably for substantially circular outline having carrier films, the displacement or rotary drive in each case a discharge channel to a discharge opening moves such that the discharge channel and discharge opening are aligned. At the same time means are arranged in the applicator for gripping the Reißlappen, which cause in the course of this rotational movement, an opening of the discharge channel by tearing of the lobe, so that a transversely extending to the channel tear edge of the discharge into an aligned position to the discharge. If, in such an application, any contamination of the discharge opening by the fluid agents should also be avoided, then such use of the applicator should be made possible only in certain positions in which the fluid or the fluid drops can emerge without contact with the discharge. This can be ensured, in particular, by the fact that a position sensor is provided which releases the tearing of the discharge channels only in a defined position relative to an application site, in particular in a substantially vertical position and / or a position recognizing the application site.

In order to be able to discharge the contents of the cavities completely, the embodiment is preferably formed in such a way that pressing jaws acting transversely to the carrier cooperate with cavities whose discharge channels reach a position aligned with the dispensing opening. A high degree of operational safety and a number of further simplifications in the handling can be achieved in that the applicator has a freely programmable switching mechanism and at least one display, by means of which time-specific or operation-specific data such as expiry of the effectiveness of the active ingredients, low residual energy of the energy storage , detected by temperature sensors minimum and / or maximum temperatures, time or reminder signals can be displayed.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown schematically in the drawing. 2 shows a view in the direction of the arrow II of FIG. 1 with the container removed and the lid removed, FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a container, and FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the applicator with an open lid and inserted container a bottom view of the container with the gas-tight cavities.

In Fig. 1, 1 denotes a housing of an applicator, which has a hinged lid 2. 3 denotes a container or carrier, wherein the container is visible in plan view and the cavities not shown in FIG. 1 are shown only in the bottom view according to FIG. 4. The container has a plurality of recesses or cavities 4, which cooperate with pins 5 for transporting the container in the direction of the arrow 6. 7, an opening of the housing 1 is shown, via which active ingredients can be discharged.

From the representation according to FIG. 2, in which the entire cover 2 is removed together with the rear part of the housing, it is now apparent that for driving a first ring Disc 8, a motor 9 is provided with a worm 10. The power supply is indicated schematically by a battery 11, wherein 12 denotes a display which is controlled by a freely programmable switching mechanism 13. 14 designates here a sensor with which the position of the housing 1 can be detected and evaluated in the freely programmable switching mechanism 13.

The ring gear 8 carrying a ring gear 15 is moved by the worm 10 in the direction of the double arrow 16, wherein about the central axis 17 via a radially inwardly projecting arm 18 which is connected to the ring 8, and a sprocket 19, a dashed line indicated gear 20 is driven in rotation about the axis 21. This gear 20 is connected via a ratchet 34 with the gear 22, so that the gear 22 is driven only in the direction of the arrow 23, due to the ratchet 34 but not in the opposite direction. In this way, the gear 22 drives each stepwise equipped with an internal toothing ring 24, which carries the pin 5 for the container and in this way each conveys a new cavity to the press-in jaw 25. With this ring 24, an arm 26 is now connected, which engages with a pin 27 designated in Fig. 1 with 28 recesses of the container and initiates the tear movement in this manner. When pivoting the arm 18, an inclined surface 29 is guided under the pressing jaw 25, so that the pressing jaw 25 is raised in the illustration of FIG. 2 and a corresponding pressing pressure on the cavity of the container, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 now more clearly , exercises.

In Fig. 3 and 4 are designated with 28 recesses in tabs 29, which can be taken from the arm of the applicator, as shown in Fig. 2, and can be bent in this way along the incisions 30, wherein in another sequence, as indicated in Fig. 4 by the dashed line 31, each discharge channels 32 exposed by tearing. This discharge channels 32 pass through rotational movement of the container in each case in an aligned position to the outlet opening 7, as can be seen in Fig. 1, wherein the associated cavities are each designated 33. The containers themselves may have a disk-shaped multi-layered construction, the contents of the containers being able to be pressed out by the pressing jaws 25 in the position of the discharge channels 32 aligned with the discharge opening 7.

To ensure that in such a squeezing the drug discharge port 7 can not contaminate, the respective position of the applicator is determined by the sensor 14 and made the release of the drive connection only at appropriately defined conditions electronically.

On the display 12 in addition to current operating conditions naturally also the remaining number of not yet squeezed cavities are displayed, with a number of additional operating data, such as the expiration of the effectiveness of the active ingredients or the residual energy of the energy storage 11 in a simple way can also be displayed ,

The temperature can also be detected by means of additional sensors and minimum and / or maximum values can be stored, if desired.

A significant advantage of the device according to the invention is that the fluid can also be discharged without pressure, if appropriate drops are formed. The container is gas-tight and can be UV-resistant.

Claims

Claims:

1. Container for a plurality of individual doses of a fluid agent in which the individual doses are packed separately gas-tight and can be released separately, characterized in that the container (3) has a substantially planar support film, which has a plurality of gas-tight cavities (33 ) pointing to the circumference of the carrier film and at a distance from the circumference of the carrier foil discharging discharge channels (32) carries that outgoing from the circumference transverse to the discharge channels (32) at a distance from these end incisions (30) are provided, wherein when turning and pulling on the discharge channels (32) can be released by tearing and separating transversely to the axis of the discharge channels (32) through the lobes formed by the incisions (30).

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas-tight cavities (33) and the discharge channels (32) are limited by a multilayer film structure.

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the substantially planar carrier foil has a circular outline and the discharge channels (32) are arranged substantially radially.

4. Container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the discharge channels (32) have a suitable for the formation of liquid droplets clear cross-section.

5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the incisions (30) from the periphery of the carrier (3) extending over a first portion substantially radially inwardly extending transversely to the circumference and in a further section substantially in the circumferential direction and are formed extending transversely to the discharge channels (32), wherein the incisions (30) the discharge channels (32) adjacent ends.

6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the carrier film and / or the cavities (33) and the discharge channels (32) limiting films are formed as an elastically prestressed film or elastically biased composite film.

7. Applicator for containers according to one of claims 1, to 6, characterized in that a displacement drive or rotary drive for a carrier film of the container (3) is provided, by means of which a discharge channel (32) in an aligned with this discharge channel (32) position an outlet opening (7) of the applicator is movable and in that means for gripping a respective discharge channel (32) adjacent by incisions (30) limited flaps (29) are provided which the adjacent discharge channel (32) to form a transverse to the discharge channel (32 ) extending tear edge in the aligned with the outlet opening (7) of the applicator position.

8. An applicator according to claim 7, characterized in that transversely to the carrier (3) effective pressing jaws (25) with cavities (4) cooperate, the discharge channel (32) reach into an aligned with the outlet opening (7) position.

9. An applicator according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a position sensor (14) is provided, the tearing of the discharge channels (32) only in a defined position relative to an application site, in particular in the vertical position and / or the application site recognizing position releases.

10. An applicator according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the applicator has a freely programmable switching mechanism (13) and at least one display, by means of which time-specific or operation-specific data such as expiration of the effectiveness of the active ingredients, low residual energy of the energy storage of Temperature sensors recorded minimum and / or maximum temperatures, time or reminder signals can be displayed.